Ms Joanna Murphy:

ConnectIreland is very happy to enter into a process like anybody else who is interested. We have sought exactly that for almost three years, non-stop. However, it is worth noting our legal advice on this issue is that, because of the unique nature of this programme, it does not require a tender. We have it from one of the pre-eminent procurement lawyers in the country that in time of national emergency, such as with Brexit and given the fact it is unique, that is not required. However, ConnectIreland would have been, and still is, very happy to enter into a tender process in order to facilitate that.

ConnectIreland is not a business. This thing does not make a profit; it is a not-for-profit entity. However, it is a passionate, wonderfully vibrant community of people who all have one golden thread running through them, namely, an affinity toward Ireland. It is not a case of them and us. It is not a case of wanting to put down the State agent partners. We want to work with them. We want to unify more and become more collegiate. We want them to find a way to work with us also, understanding that the number of jobs we bring is smaller than what they are used to and may not be as interesting to them as other announcements may be, but that they are vital for Ireland. ConnectIreland is open to any single iteration that allows us to continue our good work and to facilitate rural job creation in Ireland.